Sports Dentistry

A mouthguard is a removable polyvinyl shield worn over your teeth, most commonly the upper teeth, to protect the teeth and jaws from traumatic injury during sporting activities.

A mouthguard is not just to save your teeth from sustaining an injury. A correctly fitted mouthguard will protect your entire mouth by cushioning a blow and distributing the force of the impact, helping to prevent jaw fractures, reduce neck and muscle injuries that can occur when your lower jaw is unexpectedly forced into the upper jaw.

Our mouthguards come in their own holder and your name is embedded so it won't get lost- we can even put your mobile phone number it in.

Football, cricket, cycling, boxing, basketball we custom make them for every sport- different sports need different thicknesses.  Colours available or plain white is the most popular.

The custom fitted mouthguard is available from Richmond Fine Dentistry. This mouthguard is constructed directly from a mould taken of your teeth in the dental surgery and fits tightly and comfortably over your teeth. This type of mouthguard is the type recommended by the dental profession and sporting authorities and is the most effective in preventing injuries to the teeth and jaws.

• The "do it yourself" mouthguard, available at many pharmacies are usually poorly fitting and uncomfortable to wear. These types of mouthguards can impede your ability to talk and breathe easily and cause gum irritation as they do not fit snuggly and as such allow for excess movement. Sporting authorities do not recommend these as they offer little protection to the teeth. Patients are encouraged to obtain the custom-fitted guard.

If you or any members of your family take part in contact sport or recreational activities where there is a risk of a facial injury, a custom-made mouthguard from Richmond Fine Dentistry will provide the best protection.

At Richmond Fine Dentistry we use & recommend the new ERKODENT lite pro laminated sports mouthguard. The lamination process enables thin, strong mouthguards which aid breathing and speaking.

A mouthguard is just as important for children to protect their developing teeth and facial bone structure. If your child’s tooth is fractured, knocked out or they receive a jaw injury, it may result dental complications that require extensive long-term restorative treatments.

Mouthguards should be worn during any sport where there is the chance of a knock to the face.

Mouthguards should be worn during all competitions as well as during training sessions, as this is when many injuries occur. This should be stressed to children in junior teams.

If the child is in the middle of orthodontic treatment, they may be encouraged to avoid contact or collision sports for the duration because of the potential of lip lacerations. However, there are ways of making mouthguards that still fit reasonably well if sport must continue.

Your smile is your most important asset and should have the best protection possible. Talk to one of our team today about the new ERKODENT lite pro laminated sports mouthguard.

Caring for your mouthguard:

• Clean your mouthguard in warm soapy water (not hot) after every time you wear it to prevent the build-up of bacteria
• Store your mouthguard in a plastic container that has several holes so it can dry completely, this will prevent the bacterial growth.
• Do not leave you mouthguard in direct sunlight or in a car, as heat can warp it out of shape.
• Do not chew on the edges, twist or bend your mouthguard as this can alter its shape and prevent it from fitting snugly over your teeth and reduce its effectiveness